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Happy Thanksgiving

When I was a child, my parents often reminded me: The world doesn’t revolve around you! The more I hear about the shenanigans pulled by those who think the world owes them a living, I’m thankful that I learned that universal lesson early.

I’m thankful for those howling coyotes that woke me up – it means my ears still work. Maybe they don’t work as well as they used to (ask anyone), but I can hear.

I’m thankful for a warm home – solid shelter and good heat. This is not something I take for granted. Looking back to when I was young and struggling to make ends meet, I recall renting the cheapest apartment I could find. Others in the unit paid $15-17 for their gas, which I thought I could manage. When my bill came, though, it was a whopping $175. Of course I requested that the company check my line for leaks. When they found no leaks, I had to tell them, “You better turn it off, then, cuz I don’t have that kind of money.” No gas meant no heat, no hot water, and no way to use the kitchen range. I managed then, and I appreciate my modern conveniences so much more now.

I’m thankful for a society in which scientific research is a possibility. Medical and pharmaceutical discoveries have made the lives of many much better.

I’m thankful for my doctors. They take time to listen to me. They believe “treat the patient, not the labs.” It would have been nice to stick with the “check in with the doctor every other year just to make sure everything’s okay” camp, but given the current situation, I’m so thankful for the doctors that I have.

I’m thankful for a loving God who cares for me (and you).

Yesterday we took a break from our Thanksgiving preparations, and my daughter posted on her FB account:

Have a happy Thanksgiving. I hope you are blessed with many things for which you are thankful. As you gather around the table to eat, consider discussing the questions provided by Engage With Grace.

I’m daily thankful for the people I have “met” on the internet, and our little RA blogging community. We are bringing about change, slowly but surely, in attitudes about RA. People are beginning to realize that this is “not your grandma’s arthritis.”
And thank YOU, WarmSocks, for posting about Engage with Grace. I’m planning for a discussion with all of my children about this topic. No matter how uncomfortable it makes them. Bless you!
Cheerio!
Elizabeth